Connect 22

INTRODUCTION

Kia ora e te whānau, 

I hope you are enjoying Spring, with longer days, blossoms, and all the beautiful things we only see at this time of year 

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Deb Nind, and I commenced in the role of General Manager of the Champion Centre on the 16th of September. Originally a UK trained Accident and Emergency Nurse, I moved to New Zealand in 2003 and have since gained extensive experience leading health and disability services in the public, private and the NGO sectors, my most recent position being the General Manager at the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust.

I would like to acknowledge the fabulous job Chloe has done while in the role of interim Executive Director (now General Manager) and the other members of the team who have stepped up Beccy, Margi and Sarah. Their skill and professionalism, plus the warm welcome of the rest of the team has made this a very smooth transition for me.

I am so excited to be here and look forward to getting the chance to get to know you all throughout term 4. 

Happy reading.

CENTRE HAPPENINGS​

We're selling t-shirts! Thanks to FashionBiz, we have launched our first t-shirt fundraiser. This has been an incredible experience, and seeing everyone sporting our tees has been so heartwarming. Thank you for all the love we have received following the launch of this project. ​

If you haven't had the chance to purchase one of our tees, they're available in store from the Champion Centre reception or you can order online using the following link Champion Centre Tee. All proceeds directly support our services, and every wear creates the opportunity for more people to discover the work that we do.
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On the 16th of October the Champion Centre will be conducting its first fundraising appeal. Every year we face the challenge of securing funds to maintain operations. As of July 2024, we have a shortfall of $1 million to make up through grants, events and other fundraising initiatives. ​

This year we want to kickstart our fundraising efforts by raising $20 thousand in just two weeks and we would love your help to grow our supportive community. Sharing our mission with your friends and families can have such an incredible impact. 

BOWIE'S STORY

​Imagine, knowing exactly what you want to say but when you say the words people give you a confused look and guess the wrong word.
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Imagine, trying to stand still but feeling like you're in gale force winds. This is Bowie's life daily. 
 
Bowie was diagnosed in 2020 with a rare condition called CacNa1A. CACNA1A is a gene that is essential to brain function. Our brains communicate by sending electrical signals between brain cells (neurons). If the CACNA1A gene does not work as it should, because of change in the gene make up, then the brain's electrical signals are affected. For Bowie this affects her motor planning - or her balance and coordination and her speech. 
 
That is just the scientific stuff, but Bowie is so much more than that. Bowie has a smile that lights up a room. She's kind, empathetic, a fun seeker, a thrill lover and holds a level of perseverance like no other. She loves people, building Lego, climbing, running and helping out in the kitchen - especially when there is a bowl to lick. 

We joined the Champion Centre in 2018 a year after we begun medically exploring the root of Bowie's challenges. I don't know what our early years would have been without the Champion Centre let alone her life outcomes. It was a place where I was able to observe and practice a whole new way of being with my curious child. It was a place where I learnt a new "language" that has transformed the way we help Bowie daily. The Champion Centre was our safe space. A place where we felt most at home.

A lifeline for me was the community, the support from the therapists and other families. It was one of the few places that "got it", where it was ok to be real in all the beauty and the beasts of the journey. My experience with our therapists was more than practising the ending consonants of words or the repetition of the same shapes puzzle week after week until it's "mastered". It was the space they held to hear my deepest worries, concerns, and the many disappointments that we faced. It was the safety to share my innermost fears with people who adored Bowie not for what she COULD do but because they could see into her very being. They celebrated with us, they cried with us, and they championed with us. They saw Bowie in a way many never will. It's so easy to forget how far Bowie has come. As I was looking over photos again, I was taken back to the many moments we held her hand to support her mobility. She has fought so hard to gain the skills like crawling, walking, gripping, pinching that many of us take for granted. 
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Since graduating from the Champion Centre Bowie has settled in so well at St Marks school. She is thriving on the social interactions the school gives and is learning new ways to communicate with her friends and classmates. Learning to read and write at school is still a real challenge for Bowie. Both the Champion Centre and school have fought very hard with us to get ORS funding for Bowie, but this is sadly still a battle we have to fight. 

Being a parent of a child with complex needs is absolutely exhausting. It has forced me to dig deep and to grow, mentally, emotionally and physically. It has required a peeling back of pride, striving and unrealistic expectations. The journey has required grit, patience, a brave face, practical support, emotional support and plenty of grace - for her, our family and myself.  Bowie has helped us see what is truly important in life. She has forced us to slow down - to be present and see that there is more to communication than just words.
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There is no doubt in my mind that our Bowie is going to overcome obstacles well beyond my wildest dreams - she's a fighter, a beautiful, loving, feisty, determined girl who will not take no for an answer... quite literally. 

Every parent needs a village. It goes without saying, parents of child with complex needs need an even bigger one. The Champion Centre was ours and I'll forever be grateful for the time each therapist spent helping us support Bowie to live to her full potential.

Make a donation
Every donation makes a difference. Every year we take on the challenge of securing funding to make up our shortfall. If you're in a position to make a donation, we would greatly appreciate the support. 

Spread the word
​Although we've been supporting whānau for over 45 years, there are many people who don't know what we do. You can help us grow our community by sharing our social media posts and telling your friends about our important work.

Purchase a t-shirt
​We're selling t-shirts and thanks to FashionBiz all proceeds directly support our services. Not only are they awesome shirts but wearing your Champion Centre tee helps raise awareness.

Donate now!

buy our tee!

​Thank you for taking the time to read our Newsletter and we're looking forward to updating you again in Term 4!